UTSA’s Coker: ‘We’re going to fight our way back into this thing’

UTSA coach Larry Coker on Monday copped an attitude only a few days after absorbing a 31-point loss to Houston.

He said he still thinks he has a good team, and he advised fans to stay with the Roadrunners.

“I just can’t say enough about our fans,” Coker said. “We had 33,000 people come and see us play last Saturday. Hey, don’t give up on us. We’re going to fight our way back in this thing.”

In only its third year as a program and leading into its 28th game, UTSA (2-3) will play at Marshall (2-2) on Saturday in Huntington, W.Va.

Coker said he remains optimistic in spite of lopsided losses to Oklahoma State, Arizona and Houston.

“We’ve really played a tough schedule for the first five games,” Coker said. “That’s the thing. They’re all going to be tough for us. But what we have to realize is, we’ve got a good football team. I really believe we do.

“What we’ve got to do is eliminate some mistakes, keep executing and just keep playing.”

Houston handed UTSA a 59-28 loss Saturday at the Alamodome.

The game was close through three quarters until a flurry of mistakes allowed the Cougars to run away with it.

Coker said he liked the atmosphere at Sunday’s practice a day after the meltdown.

During the workout, freshman running back Jarveon Williams was working out as a kick returner, a hint that the coach might be trying to give the former Judson standout more touches while reducing the work-load on receiver Kam Jones.

In addition, the coach said freshman defensive end Codie Brooks would be back this week. Brooks, a redshirt freshman from Seguin, sat out the Houston game with concussion symptoms.

Will Ritter is running first team at one defensive end position, backed up by Brooks. On the other side, Baylor transfer Robert Singletary has moved up to the top line in front of Cody Rogers.